See counterbalance in All languages combined, or Wiktionary
{
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "counter",
"3": "balance"
},
"expansion": "counter- + balance",
"name": "prefix"
}
],
"etymology_text": "From counter- + balance.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "counterbalances",
"tags": [
"plural"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "counterbalance (plural counterbalances)",
"name": "en-noun"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "noun",
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
{
"_dis": "67 10 17 7",
"kind": "other",
"name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
"parents": [
"Entries with incorrect language header",
"Entry maintenance"
],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "62 10 16 12",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Entries with translation boxes",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "73 8 8 10",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Pages with 1 entry",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "80 5 9 6",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Pages with entries",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "43 21 19 17",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Ancient Greek translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "56 11 20 13",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Arabic translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "57 10 18 14",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "49 19 15 17",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Czech translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "56 11 19 14",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Dutch translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "56 11 20 13",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Finnish translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "56 10 19 15",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with French translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "56 10 20 14",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with German translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "50 17 16 17",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Gujarati translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "63 9 17 10",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Italian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "50 17 16 17",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Kazakh translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "50 17 16 17",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Macedonian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "52 18 18 12",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Mandarin translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "53 12 20 14",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Norwegian Bokmål translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "80 4 11 5",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Norwegian Nynorsk translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "56 11 20 13",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Norwegian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "52 12 21 16",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Polish translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "48 16 21 15",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Portuguese translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "56 11 20 13",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Romanian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "63 9 17 10",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Russian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "50 17 16 17",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Serbo-Croatian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "66 9 15 10",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Spanish translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "57 10 20 13",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Swedish translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "57 10 20 13",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Turkish translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
}
],
"glosses": [
"A weight that is put in opposition to an equal weight so it keeps that in balance."
],
"id": "en-counterbalance-en-noun-pIt12Vhd",
"links": [
[
"weight",
"weight"
],
[
"opposition",
"opposition"
],
[
"balance",
"balance"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(literally) A weight that is put in opposition to an equal weight so it keeps that in balance."
],
"tags": [
"literally"
]
},
{
"glosses": [
"A force or influence that balances, checks or limits an opposite one."
],
"id": "en-counterbalance-en-noun-KlGXI8bN",
"links": [
[
"force",
"force"
],
[
"influence",
"influence"
],
[
"check",
"check"
],
[
"limit",
"limit"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(figuratively) A force or influence that balances, checks or limits an opposite one."
],
"tags": [
"figuratively"
],
"translations": [
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "ar",
"lang": "Arabic",
"roman": "ṯiql muwāzin",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "ثِقْل مُوَازِن"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "ar",
"english": "older Classical Arabic",
"lang": "Arabic",
"roman": "saqūm",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "سَقُوم"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "protivotéžest",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "противоте́жест"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"roman": "kànghénglì",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"word": "抗衡力"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "cs",
"lang": "Czech",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "protizávaží"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "cs",
"lang": "Czech",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "protiváha"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "tegenwicht"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"word": "vastapaino"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "contrepoids"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "Gegengewicht"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "grc",
"lang": "Ancient Greek",
"roman": "sḗkōma",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "σήκωμα"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "gu",
"lang": "Gujarati",
"roman": "dhaḍo",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"word": "ધડો"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "it",
"lang": "Italian",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "contrappeso"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "kk",
"lang": "Kazakh",
"roman": "qarsy salmaq",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"word": "қарсы салмақ"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "mk",
"lang": "Macedonian",
"roman": "protivteža",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "противтежа"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "nb",
"lang": "Norwegian Bokmål",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine",
"masculine"
],
"word": "motvekt"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "nn",
"lang": "Norwegian Nynorsk",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "motvekt"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "przeciwwaga"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "contrapeso"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "protivovés",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "противове́с"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "sh",
"lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "protuteža"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "contrabalanza"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "contrapeso"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "sv",
"lang": "Swedish",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"common-gender"
],
"word": "motvikt"
},
{
"_dis1": "25 75",
"code": "tr",
"lang": "Turkish",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"word": "denge ağırlığı"
},
{
"_dis1": "8 92",
"code": "ar",
"lang": "Arabic",
"roman": "ṯiql muwāzin",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "ثِقْل مُوَازِن"
},
{
"_dis1": "8 92",
"code": "ar",
"lang": "Arabic",
"roman": "muwāzana",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "مُوَازَنَة"
},
{
"_dis1": "8 92",
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "balansjór",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "балансьо́р"
},
{
"_dis1": "8 92",
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"word": "vastavoima"
},
{
"_dis1": "8 92",
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"word": "vastapaino"
},
{
"_dis1": "8 92",
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "contrepoids"
},
{
"_dis1": "8 92",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "Gegengewicht"
},
{
"_dis1": "8 92",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "Gegenkraft"
},
{
"_dis1": "8 92",
"code": "mk",
"lang": "Macedonian",
"roman": "protivteža",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "противтежа"
},
{
"_dis1": "8 92",
"code": "nb",
"lang": "Norwegian Bokmål",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine",
"masculine"
],
"word": "motvekt"
},
{
"_dis1": "8 92",
"code": "nn",
"lang": "Norwegian Nynorsk",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "motvekt"
},
{
"_dis1": "8 92",
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "contrapeso"
},
{
"_dis1": "8 92",
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "protivovés",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "противове́с"
},
{
"_dis1": "8 92",
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "contrabalanza"
},
{
"_dis1": "8 92",
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "contraposición"
},
{
"_dis1": "8 92",
"code": "sv",
"lang": "Swedish",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"common-gender"
],
"word": "motvikt"
}
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˌkaʊntəˈbæləns/",
"tags": [
"Received-Pronunciation"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ˌkaʊntɚˈbæləns/",
"tags": [
"General-American"
]
}
],
"synonyms": [
{
"_dis1": "0 0",
"word": "counterpoise"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0",
"word": "counterweigh"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0",
"word": "equipoise"
}
],
"wikipedia": [
"counterweight"
],
"word": "counterbalance"
}
{
"derived": [
{
"_dis1": "0 0",
"word": "counterbalancer"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0",
"word": "counterbalancingly"
}
],
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "counter",
"3": "balance"
},
"expansion": "counter- + balance",
"name": "prefix"
}
],
"etymology_text": "From counter- + balance.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "counterbalances",
"tags": [
"present",
"singular",
"third-person"
]
},
{
"form": "counterbalancing",
"tags": [
"participle",
"present"
]
},
{
"form": "counterbalanced",
"tags": [
"participle",
"past"
]
},
{
"form": "counterbalanced",
"tags": [
"past"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "counterbalance (third-person singular simple present counterbalances, present participle counterbalancing, simple past and past participle counterbalanced)",
"name": "en-verb"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "verb",
"senses": [
{
"antonyms": [
{
"word": "outweigh"
}
],
"categories": [
{
"_dis": "25 17 41 17",
"kind": "other",
"name": "English terms prefixed with counter-",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
}
],
"examples": [
{
"text": "Big brother counterbalances his two siblings to the pound.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"ref": "1659 December 30 (date written), Robert Boyle, “[Experiment 17]”, in New Experiments Physico-Mechanicall, Touching the Spring of the Air, and Its Effects, (Made, for the Most Part, in a New Pneumatical Engine) […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] H[enry] Hall, printer to the University, for Tho[mas] Robinson, published 1660, →OCLC, page 118:",
"text": "[…] the remaining Air was not able to counterballance the Mercurial Cylinder, […]",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To apply weight in order to balance an opposing weight."
],
"id": "en-counterbalance-en-verb-DCQApyBl",
"links": [
[
"weight",
"weight"
],
[
"balance",
"balance"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive) To apply weight in order to balance an opposing weight."
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "counterpoise"
},
{
"word": "equiponderate"
},
{
"word": "counterweight"
}
],
"tags": [
"transitive"
],
"translations": [
{
"_dis1": "93 7",
"code": "ar",
"lang": "Arabic",
"roman": "wāzana",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "وَازَنَ"
},
{
"_dis1": "93 7",
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "uravnovesjávam",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "уравновеся́вам"
},
{
"_dis1": "93 7",
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"roman": "xiāngdǐ",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "相抵"
},
{
"_dis1": "93 7",
"code": "cs",
"lang": "Czech",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "vyvážit"
},
{
"_dis1": "93 7",
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "tasapainottaa"
},
{
"_dis1": "93 7",
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "contrebalancer"
},
{
"_dis1": "93 7",
"code": "no",
"lang": "Norwegian",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "motveie"
},
{
"_dis1": "93 7",
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "contrabalancear"
},
{
"_dis1": "93 7",
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "contrapesar"
},
{
"_dis1": "93 7",
"code": "ro",
"lang": "Romanian",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "contrabalansa"
},
{
"_dis1": "93 7",
"code": "ro",
"lang": "Romanian",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "cumpăni"
},
{
"_dis1": "93 7",
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "uravnovéšivatʹ",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "уравнове́шивать"
},
{
"_dis1": "93 7",
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "contrabalancear"
}
]
},
{
"antonyms": [
{
"word": "overcome"
},
{
"word": "overpower"
}
],
"categories": [],
"examples": [
{
"text": "Arm wrestling is undecided as long as the opponents counterbalance each other.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"text": "The defenders' knowledge of the terrain roughly counterbalances the attackers' superior equipment.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"ref": "1820, [Walter Scott], chapter XV, in The Abbot. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne & Co.] for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and for Archibald Constable and Company, and John Ballantyne, […], →OCLC, pages 333–334:",
"text": "Still, a strong reluctance to re-enter a service from which he had been dismissed with contempt, almost counterbalanced these considerations.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter VII, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, →OCLC, page 84:",
"text": "Perhaps her views of life were too morbid, but her companions had enough cheerfulness to counterbalance any undue tinge of sadness given by one who had obviously suffered much.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1859, William Hamilton, “Lecture II. Philosophy—Its Absolute Utility. (B) Objective.”, in H[enry] L[ongueville] Mansel and John Veitch, editors, Lectures on Metaphysics and Logic […], volume I, Edinburgh, London: William Blackwood and Sons, →OCLC, page 35:",
"text": "[…] the study of mind is necessary to counterbalance and correct the influence of the study of matter; […]",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page ix:",
"text": "A considerable effort has been made in these volumes to counterbalance this activity by introducing the student to the plants as living entities with a \"life of their own,\" as Spruce put it.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "2023 March 8, David Clough, “The long road that led to Beeching”, in RAIL, number 978, page 43:",
"text": "Government control was inconsistent and (at times) motivated by wider political issues that prevented BR being able to charge reasonable rates. Counterbalancing this was the Commission's own policy regarding freight charges. It frequently did not charge enough to cover direct costs (the so-called exceptional rates), causing massive losses to accrue on merchandise movements.",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To match or equal in effect when applying opposing force."
],
"id": "en-counterbalance-en-verb-zj0XrotI",
"links": [
[
"match",
"match"
],
[
"equal",
"equal"
],
[
"opposing",
"oppose"
],
[
"force",
"force"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive, figuratively) To match or equal in effect when applying opposing force."
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "counterpoise"
},
{
"word": "counteract"
}
],
"tags": [
"figuratively",
"transitive"
],
"translations": [
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "ar",
"lang": "Arabic",
"roman": "wāzana",
"sense": "to match or equal in effect when applying opposing force",
"word": "وَازَنَ"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "uravnovesjávam",
"sense": "to match or equal in effect when applying opposing force",
"word": "уравновеся́вам"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "balansíram",
"sense": "to match or equal in effect when applying opposing force",
"word": "баланси́рам"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"roman": "dǐxiāo",
"sense": "to match or equal in effect when applying opposing force",
"word": "抵消"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "to match or equal in effect when applying opposing force",
"word": "contre-balancer"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "no",
"lang": "Norwegian",
"sense": "to match or equal in effect when applying opposing force",
"word": "motveie"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "to match or equal in effect when applying opposing force",
"word": "contrapesar"
}
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˌkaʊntəˈbæləns/",
"tags": [
"Received-Pronunciation"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ˌkaʊntɚˈbæləns/",
"tags": [
"General-American"
]
}
],
"wikipedia": [
"counterweight"
],
"word": "counterbalance"
}
{
"categories": [
"English countable nouns",
"English entries with incorrect language header",
"English lemmas",
"English nouns",
"English terms prefixed with counter-",
"English verbs",
"Entries with translation boxes",
"Pages with 1 entry",
"Pages with entries",
"Requests for review of Dutch translations",
"Terms with Ancient Greek translations",
"Terms with Arabic translations",
"Terms with Bulgarian translations",
"Terms with Czech translations",
"Terms with Dutch translations",
"Terms with Finnish translations",
"Terms with French translations",
"Terms with German translations",
"Terms with Gujarati translations",
"Terms with Italian translations",
"Terms with Kazakh translations",
"Terms with Macedonian translations",
"Terms with Mandarin translations",
"Terms with Norwegian Bokmål translations",
"Terms with Norwegian Nynorsk translations",
"Terms with Norwegian translations",
"Terms with Polish translations",
"Terms with Portuguese translations",
"Terms with Romanian translations",
"Terms with Russian translations",
"Terms with Serbo-Croatian translations",
"Terms with Spanish translations",
"Terms with Swedish translations",
"Terms with Turkish translations"
],
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "counter",
"3": "balance"
},
"expansion": "counter- + balance",
"name": "prefix"
}
],
"etymology_text": "From counter- + balance.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "counterbalances",
"tags": [
"plural"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "counterbalance (plural counterbalances)",
"name": "en-noun"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "noun",
"senses": [
{
"glosses": [
"A weight that is put in opposition to an equal weight so it keeps that in balance."
],
"links": [
[
"weight",
"weight"
],
[
"opposition",
"opposition"
],
[
"balance",
"balance"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(literally) A weight that is put in opposition to an equal weight so it keeps that in balance."
],
"tags": [
"literally"
]
},
{
"glosses": [
"A force or influence that balances, checks or limits an opposite one."
],
"links": [
[
"force",
"force"
],
[
"influence",
"influence"
],
[
"check",
"check"
],
[
"limit",
"limit"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(figuratively) A force or influence that balances, checks or limits an opposite one."
],
"tags": [
"figuratively"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˌkaʊntəˈbæləns/",
"tags": [
"Received-Pronunciation"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ˌkaʊntɚˈbæləns/",
"tags": [
"General-American"
]
}
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "counterpoise"
},
{
"word": "counterweigh"
},
{
"word": "equipoise"
}
],
"translations": [
{
"code": "ar",
"lang": "Arabic",
"roman": "ṯiql muwāzin",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "ثِقْل مُوَازِن"
},
{
"code": "ar",
"english": "older Classical Arabic",
"lang": "Arabic",
"roman": "saqūm",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "سَقُوم"
},
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "protivotéžest",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "противоте́жест"
},
{
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"roman": "kànghénglì",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"word": "抗衡力"
},
{
"code": "cs",
"lang": "Czech",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "protizávaží"
},
{
"code": "cs",
"lang": "Czech",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "protiváha"
},
{
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "tegenwicht"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"word": "vastapaino"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "contrepoids"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "Gegengewicht"
},
{
"code": "grc",
"lang": "Ancient Greek",
"roman": "sḗkōma",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "σήκωμα"
},
{
"code": "gu",
"lang": "Gujarati",
"roman": "dhaḍo",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"word": "ધડો"
},
{
"code": "it",
"lang": "Italian",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "contrappeso"
},
{
"code": "kk",
"lang": "Kazakh",
"roman": "qarsy salmaq",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"word": "қарсы салмақ"
},
{
"code": "mk",
"lang": "Macedonian",
"roman": "protivteža",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "противтежа"
},
{
"code": "nb",
"lang": "Norwegian Bokmål",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine",
"masculine"
],
"word": "motvekt"
},
{
"code": "nn",
"lang": "Norwegian Nynorsk",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "motvekt"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "przeciwwaga"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "contrapeso"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "protivovés",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "противове́с"
},
{
"code": "sh",
"lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "protuteža"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "contrabalanza"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "contrapeso"
},
{
"code": "sv",
"lang": "Swedish",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"common-gender"
],
"word": "motvikt"
},
{
"code": "tr",
"lang": "Turkish",
"sense": "weight balancing an opposite one",
"word": "denge ağırlığı"
},
{
"code": "ar",
"lang": "Arabic",
"roman": "ṯiql muwāzin",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "ثِقْل مُوَازِن"
},
{
"code": "ar",
"lang": "Arabic",
"roman": "muwāzana",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "مُوَازَنَة"
},
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "balansjór",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "балансьо́р"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"word": "vastavoima"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"word": "vastapaino"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "contrepoids"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"neuter"
],
"word": "Gegengewicht"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "Gegenkraft"
},
{
"code": "mk",
"lang": "Macedonian",
"roman": "protivteža",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "противтежа"
},
{
"code": "nb",
"lang": "Norwegian Bokmål",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine",
"masculine"
],
"word": "motvekt"
},
{
"code": "nn",
"lang": "Norwegian Nynorsk",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "motvekt"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "contrapeso"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "protivovés",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "противове́с"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "contrabalanza"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "contraposición"
},
{
"code": "sv",
"lang": "Swedish",
"sense": "force or influence balancing an opposite one",
"tags": [
"common-gender"
],
"word": "motvikt"
}
],
"wikipedia": [
"counterweight"
],
"word": "counterbalance"
}
{
"categories": [
"English countable nouns",
"English entries with incorrect language header",
"English lemmas",
"English nouns",
"English terms prefixed with counter-",
"English verbs",
"Entries with translation boxes",
"Pages with 1 entry",
"Pages with entries",
"Requests for review of Dutch translations",
"Terms with Ancient Greek translations",
"Terms with Arabic translations",
"Terms with Bulgarian translations",
"Terms with Czech translations",
"Terms with Dutch translations",
"Terms with Finnish translations",
"Terms with French translations",
"Terms with German translations",
"Terms with Gujarati translations",
"Terms with Italian translations",
"Terms with Kazakh translations",
"Terms with Macedonian translations",
"Terms with Mandarin translations",
"Terms with Norwegian Bokmål translations",
"Terms with Norwegian Nynorsk translations",
"Terms with Norwegian translations",
"Terms with Polish translations",
"Terms with Portuguese translations",
"Terms with Romanian translations",
"Terms with Russian translations",
"Terms with Serbo-Croatian translations",
"Terms with Spanish translations",
"Terms with Swedish translations",
"Terms with Turkish translations"
],
"derived": [
{
"word": "counterbalancer"
},
{
"word": "counterbalancingly"
}
],
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "counter",
"3": "balance"
},
"expansion": "counter- + balance",
"name": "prefix"
}
],
"etymology_text": "From counter- + balance.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "counterbalances",
"tags": [
"present",
"singular",
"third-person"
]
},
{
"form": "counterbalancing",
"tags": [
"participle",
"present"
]
},
{
"form": "counterbalanced",
"tags": [
"participle",
"past"
]
},
{
"form": "counterbalanced",
"tags": [
"past"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "counterbalance (third-person singular simple present counterbalances, present participle counterbalancing, simple past and past participle counterbalanced)",
"name": "en-verb"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "verb",
"senses": [
{
"antonyms": [
{
"word": "outweigh"
}
],
"categories": [
"English terms with quotations",
"English terms with usage examples",
"English transitive verbs"
],
"examples": [
{
"text": "Big brother counterbalances his two siblings to the pound.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"ref": "1659 December 30 (date written), Robert Boyle, “[Experiment 17]”, in New Experiments Physico-Mechanicall, Touching the Spring of the Air, and Its Effects, (Made, for the Most Part, in a New Pneumatical Engine) […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] H[enry] Hall, printer to the University, for Tho[mas] Robinson, published 1660, →OCLC, page 118:",
"text": "[…] the remaining Air was not able to counterballance the Mercurial Cylinder, […]",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To apply weight in order to balance an opposing weight."
],
"links": [
[
"weight",
"weight"
],
[
"balance",
"balance"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive) To apply weight in order to balance an opposing weight."
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "counterpoise"
},
{
"word": "equiponderate"
},
{
"word": "counterweight"
}
],
"tags": [
"transitive"
]
},
{
"antonyms": [
{
"word": "overcome"
},
{
"word": "overpower"
}
],
"categories": [
"English terms with quotations",
"English terms with usage examples",
"English transitive verbs"
],
"examples": [
{
"text": "Arm wrestling is undecided as long as the opponents counterbalance each other.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"text": "The defenders' knowledge of the terrain roughly counterbalances the attackers' superior equipment.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"ref": "1820, [Walter Scott], chapter XV, in The Abbot. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne & Co.] for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and for Archibald Constable and Company, and John Ballantyne, […], →OCLC, pages 333–334:",
"text": "Still, a strong reluctance to re-enter a service from which he had been dismissed with contempt, almost counterbalanced these considerations.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter VII, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, →OCLC, page 84:",
"text": "Perhaps her views of life were too morbid, but her companions had enough cheerfulness to counterbalance any undue tinge of sadness given by one who had obviously suffered much.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1859, William Hamilton, “Lecture II. Philosophy—Its Absolute Utility. (B) Objective.”, in H[enry] L[ongueville] Mansel and John Veitch, editors, Lectures on Metaphysics and Logic […], volume I, Edinburgh, London: William Blackwood and Sons, →OCLC, page 35:",
"text": "[…] the study of mind is necessary to counterbalance and correct the influence of the study of matter; […]",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page ix:",
"text": "A considerable effort has been made in these volumes to counterbalance this activity by introducing the student to the plants as living entities with a \"life of their own,\" as Spruce put it.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "2023 March 8, David Clough, “The long road that led to Beeching”, in RAIL, number 978, page 43:",
"text": "Government control was inconsistent and (at times) motivated by wider political issues that prevented BR being able to charge reasonable rates. Counterbalancing this was the Commission's own policy regarding freight charges. It frequently did not charge enough to cover direct costs (the so-called exceptional rates), causing massive losses to accrue on merchandise movements.",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To match or equal in effect when applying opposing force."
],
"links": [
[
"match",
"match"
],
[
"equal",
"equal"
],
[
"opposing",
"oppose"
],
[
"force",
"force"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive, figuratively) To match or equal in effect when applying opposing force."
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "counterpoise"
},
{
"word": "counteract"
}
],
"tags": [
"figuratively",
"transitive"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˌkaʊntəˈbæləns/",
"tags": [
"Received-Pronunciation"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ˌkaʊntɚˈbæləns/",
"tags": [
"General-American"
]
}
],
"translations": [
{
"code": "ar",
"lang": "Arabic",
"roman": "wāzana",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "وَازَنَ"
},
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "uravnovesjávam",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "уравновеся́вам"
},
{
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"roman": "xiāngdǐ",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "相抵"
},
{
"code": "cs",
"lang": "Czech",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "vyvážit"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "tasapainottaa"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "contrebalancer"
},
{
"code": "no",
"lang": "Norwegian",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "motveie"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "contrabalancear"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "contrapesar"
},
{
"code": "ro",
"lang": "Romanian",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "contrabalansa"
},
{
"code": "ro",
"lang": "Romanian",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "cumpăni"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "uravnovéšivatʹ",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "уравнове́шивать"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "to apply weight in order to balance",
"word": "contrabalancear"
},
{
"code": "ar",
"lang": "Arabic",
"roman": "wāzana",
"sense": "to match or equal in effect when applying opposing force",
"word": "وَازَنَ"
},
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "uravnovesjávam",
"sense": "to match or equal in effect when applying opposing force",
"word": "уравновеся́вам"
},
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "balansíram",
"sense": "to match or equal in effect when applying opposing force",
"word": "баланси́рам"
},
{
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"roman": "dǐxiāo",
"sense": "to match or equal in effect when applying opposing force",
"word": "抵消"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "to match or equal in effect when applying opposing force",
"word": "contre-balancer"
},
{
"code": "no",
"lang": "Norwegian",
"sense": "to match or equal in effect when applying opposing force",
"word": "motveie"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "to match or equal in effect when applying opposing force",
"word": "contrapesar"
}
],
"wikipedia": [
"counterweight"
],
"word": "counterbalance"
}
Download raw JSONL data for counterbalance meaning in English (16.8kB)
This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-12-15 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-12-04 using wiktextract (8a39820 and 4401a4c). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.
If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.